Infection Control

COVID-19 Precautions

Since June of 2020, High Country Dentistry has had some of the cleanest air on the planet!  Upon realizing the epidemic is driven by an airborne virus, Dr. Crank studied ventilation and air filtration, designed a new office-wide, stand-alone air filtration system for dental offices, and oversaw its installation at High Country Dentistry.  How do we know it works?  First off, the system is set to turn over the air throughout the entire office every 7.5 minutes.  It utilizes filtration comparable to what is used aboard the international space station, removing all particles and harmful gases from the air.  Smoke testing shows that the direction of airflow is unidirectional, moving the ultra-clean air into the rooms of greater risk (i.e. the waiting room, treatment rooms, and lab), and thus preventing the escape of contaminated air out of these spaces.  Particle sensors shows not only zero detectable particles in the size category that would carry the coronavirus (and flu and other common airborne respiratory viruses) but zero detectable particles of any size, and that is true throughout the entire office!  That puts High Country Dentistry squarely into the cleanroom category of air cleanliness, and there is no air on the planet that is cleaner than what is found in cleanrooms.

General Safety Precautions

Infection controls and universal precautions protect clients and staff alike.  Everyone benefits from rigorous infection control — you, your dentist, and the dental team. The cornerstone in a successful and safe dental practice is the element of trust. You should feel free to discuss this topic with Dr. Crank and receive a straightforward answer.

Dr. Crank and our entire team follow procedures recommended by several federal agencies: the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These measures include:

  • Disinfectant hand soap
  • Gloves and face masks
  • Chemical disinfection of countertops and surfaces
  • Sterilization of all equipment before every use
  • Disposable materials

We sterilize all reusable equipment, including dental hand pieces. We use an autoclave, a device that kills bacteria and viruses through a combination of steam, heat and pressure.

The best defense against disease is information. The more you know, the better equipped you are to make wise decisions about your healthcare.  The more you know about our daily procedures and policies, the more comfortable you will feel.